2020 Cumberland County Sheriff Candidate
Michael Donato
Michael Donato is the Republican candidate for Cumberland County Sheriff. He lives in Cedarville, with his wife of 22 years, Denise, and our four children, Alyssa, Christina, Juliana and Jarrett.
Michael Donato recently retired as a Lieutenant with the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office after twenty-five plus years of service in law enforcement. Michael began his career in 1994 at the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department as a Correction Officer at the Cumberland County Jail. He also worked at the Cumberland County Courthouse and was assigned to the Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force as a Sheriff’s Officer.
In March of 1998, Michael Donato was hired by the City of Bridgeton Police Department and assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Bureau and was also assigned to the Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force. In November 2005, he was hired by the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office and assigned to the Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force, the Trial Unit and the Major Crimes Unit.
In November of 2010, Michael was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, he supervised the Major Crimes Unit and the Cumberland County Organized Crime Bureau and in August of 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned the Legal Bureau where he supervised a Sergeant and eight detectives. Throughout Michael Donato's career, he has investigated, supervised or been a part of hundreds upon hundreds of investigations related to homicides, shootings, stabbings, police involved incidents and narcotics related offenses.
Michael Donato has authored hundreds of search warrants for various crimes and has testified in grand jury, municipal court, state superior and federal courts on numerous occasions.
Mr. Donato was elected President of the P.B.A. for the Prosecutor’s Office detectives and I has also been on all of the contract negotiation teams.
As a volunteer firefighter with the Cedarville Fire Department for thirty years, Michael is currently the 2nd Assistant Chief for almost ten years. Michael Donato is the President of the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs and E.M.S. Captains Association.
In addition, Michael continues his service to his community as a passionate committee member of the Bridgeton Baseball Invitationals, which hosts a yearly baseball tournament at Alden Field in the City of Bridgeton.